Wednesday, October 16, 2013

The First Computer Programmer Was a Woman?

Ada Lovelace Day

Augusta Ada Lovelace, the “enchantress of numbers” wrote the first
computer program in 1842. Computer Science is a field heavily populated
with male professionals. Women have been known to shy away from
computer science professions as the media portrays computer scientists
as geeky, socially awkward, and unattractive.

So today, being Ada Lovelace Day, highlights women in science
technology, engineering and math;which is hugely dominated by men. Ada
Lovelace, daughter of Lord Byron, the poet, was split from her mother
shortly after her birth.

Being the first tech visionary, her mother encouraged her to peruse
math and her poet father encouraged her to be creative. This conjured
up the first programmer.

“Lovelace is an unusual example of a woman for her time
because she was not only allowed to learn mathematics but encouraged to
learn mathematics,” Aurora said. “She shows what women can do when given
a chance.”

Ada called herself ” an Analyst(&Metaphysician)” in which she
understood the befit of combining functionality and complexity to her
developments. Soon to be responsible for computer software, artificial
intelligence and computer music.

Females look at computers for benefits in social status, while men view computers as a tool.

With the computer science field heavily populated with men, the
thought of pursuing education in the field may be intimidating to most
women. It is well known in society that men make more money than women
in professional fields.

According to the College Board, 2,594 girls and 12,068 boys took the
AP computer Science A exam in 2011, and 517 girls and 4,422 boys took
the advanced AP Computer Science AB exam. Both girls and boys scored an
average of the same on their test scores.

When girls are told they are not as good on the subject, it is found they score 32% less on the exams.

Benefits of Gender Diversity

More women in the computer science industry has its advantages.

From a IT industry’s standpoint, gender diversity is beneficial
giving innovative ideas when group-thinking. Gender diverse groups help
businesses to produce better decision making skills, increase
creativity, and innovative performances.

When a group becomes homogenized, it hinders groupthink and stagnates the workforce.

There is a perception among women, their male peers, and professors
would see them as needing “extra help” to get through their course.
What is not realized, while women may sometimes need extra help getting
functions of computer science down, they are gaining access to peer
networks more readily available then male students.

Women can be just as technical as men, but they also require advocacy
to be happy in their career. Women feel alone and at a loss in
technical fields because of the lack of networks and mentors. People
that work in the technical field often work alone just as a computer
stands alone. When their is no support system, women decline in talent
and opportunities in career advancement. Women that are provided with
support needed from a team or company, are promoted to more senior rolls
and become major players in advancement and senior tech roles.

As we look back on the first computer programmer being a woman,
changing our lives to the means in which we live today. We still hold
this perception of women not fitting into the computer scientist world.
It is women and society that holds them back, here is a fantastic
Infographic showing just how perceptions disguise how successful women
can be in the innovative world of computer science.

What are your thoughts on women in the computer industry? We would love to hear from you! Please leave your comments below.

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